By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipina-Canadian Leylah Fernandez is still alive in the 2021 US Open as she took down another WTA top 5 player in Elina Svitolina (5) in three thrilling sets, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, during the 2021 US Open women’s singles quarterfinals.
The 19-year-old ace, whose father is Ecuadorian and mother a Filipino-Canadian, relied once again on her consistent baseline game and was able to fend off Svitolina’s aggressiveness.
Fernandez’s signature quick forehand strokes made the difference as she was able to score huge points and at the same time using it effectively on defense against the surging play style of Svitolina.
It was another gutsy finish for Fernandez after taking the third set in an action-packed tiebreaker set when both players traded blows on the baseline.
Svitolina was able to regain momentum after coming back from a 3-5 deficit in the last set and put the pressure back on the Fil-Canadian.
However, Fernandez still came out on top and made history as the youngest player to defeat two top-five ranked women of the WTA, Naomi Osaka (3) and Svitolina (5).
Fernandez is now only two wins away from capturing her first-ever Grand Slam title in her young professional career but will need to get past world no. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals first.
